With so many things happening at once, it can be difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on. Thankfully, many developers know this, and there are numerous apps designed to improve organization and workflow and do everything else in-between.

We picked 50 of the best apps to help improve your productivity, no matter where you are.

Social Media Apps

LinkedIn
For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

We couldn’t have a productivity list without mentioning the most famous app for professionals. Keep up to date with the latest news from your sector and with your connections wherever you are. It also helps that its perhaps one of the best designed social media apps out there.

Facebook Pages
For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

If you’re the administrator of a business or brand page, this app is essential to keep up with the latest developments and updates relating to your page. Answer posts, measure post performance, access quick analytics, and respond to private messages while you’re on the go.

Twitter

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

Twitter can be a treasure trove of information if you use it right, so this app is less for social media purposes and more for finding new snippets of information. Come across a tweet you find interesting? Bookmark it by using the favorite function. See an article you want to read for later? Save it onto Instapaper and read it later.

Readers

Pulse

For: iPhone, iPad Android

Cost: Free

A beautifully designed news reader, Pulse brings together your favorite news sources, blogs, and social networks and presents them all in one neat and vibrant design.

Flipboard
For: iPhone, iPad Android

Cost: Free

Flipboard, the most popular news reader out there, also offers an elegant visual design—plus it feels more like a digital magazine. The fact that you can link Flipboard (and Pulse) to your social media accounts only increases its usefulness.

Amazon Kindle

For: iPhone, iPad Android

Cost: Free

Considering the Kindle is a mobile reading device, it was obvious that it would eventually make its way to smartphones and tablets. There are a number of different settings to play around with, such as Sepia style, which lets your ebook look like a classic book.

Instapaper

For: iPhone, iPad Android

Cost: Free

This app is perfect when your discover articles or posts, but don’t have time to read them. Instapaper lets you save these articles for future reading, enabling you to keep track of them until you find the time to read them. Again, handy if they’re feature articles or important posts that you need to stay up-to-date.

Zite

For: iPhone, iPad Android, WP7

Cost: Free

The self proclaimed “personalized magazine,” Zite (taken from the word Zeitgeist, meaning the defining spirit of our times) evaluates those stories floating around the Web and picks the ones that best reflect your own personal interests. The more you use it, the more intelligent it gets. After a few days, it should reflect your reading habits.

Organization

Remember The Milk

For: iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry

Cost: Free

The original organizing app, Remember the Milk takes everything you need to do and presents it in a simple and straightforward interface. You can sync it with Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Siri, and Twitter, to name a few, making this the omnipresent to-do list.

TeuxDeux
For: iPhone

Cost: Free

A simple, but beautifully designed to-do list app, TeuxDeux doesn’t waste time complicating things. Instead, it presents a clear list and calendar and lets you mark off any completed tasks.

Clear

For: iPhone

Cost: Free

Clear is another simple to do-list app, but the results are more colorful. It keeps things simple and to the point, plus it’s probably the only to-do app that is controlled solely by gestures.

Cheddar
For: iPhone, iPad

Cost: Free

A brilliantly simple app that does exactly what’s expected of it. Instead of trying to pack it with numerous features, Cheddar focuses on providing a straightforward experience that’s easy to pick up.

Astrid To Do List

For: iPhone, Android

Cost: Free

Astrid is the personal assistant that will always remind you about what you should be doing. It links to your browser account to help you keep track of everything you need to do, using through voice activation (which is more accurate than you’d think), notifications, and lists, and by syncing accounts with friends to help you better plan events. A fun interface also helps make this app stand out from the others.

iDoneThis

For: iPhone

Cost: Free

iDoneThis is best described as a to-do list for groups. Enter to-do items in the evening and mark them completed the next day, get an email digest showing you what everyone has achieved, and bask in the glory of completing day-to-day tasks.

Any.DO

For: Android

Cost: Free

Any.DO is a to-do list that is easily synced with all devices so you can gather all of your tasks. You can mark off tasks as you go along and shake the screen to remove them once completed. It also responds to voice commands, which means you can add and remove tasks by speaking.

Storage

Dropbox

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

To cover anything even vaguely related to cloud storage you must mention Dropbox—and for good reason. With 2GB to play around with (and an extra 500MB provided you complete a few tasks), sharing files and documents has never been easier.

Google Drive

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

Google’s newest cloud storage app is planning on taking the limelight away from Dropbox. The two major advantages this app has over Dropbox is that it gives you 5GB to start, and it links up automatically to Google Docs. While it’s not nearly as popular as its competitor, Google Drive could catch up sooner than you think.

Box

For: Android

Cost: Free

Box is much like a mobile version of DropBox in that it enables you to share and view files across devices and between users. There is little lag, so you can view documents instantly and always have your files at your fingertips.

EverNote

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free to, $5 per month/$40 per year

The quintessential organizer app, EverNote lets you store anything anywhere— ideas, images, videos, notes, you name it. The app’s versatility and ability to take notes while on the move is what makes it so popular.

Communication

Viber

For: iPhone, Android

Cost: Free

If you want to focus solely on making free calls, Viber uses your Wi-Fi/3G connection to make calls instead of relying on your service provider. Handy if you have free 3G data to play around with.

WhatsApp
For: iPhone, Android

Cost: Free, 99 cents

The popular texting app works the same way as Viber, except you can share audio, videos, images, contacts, and your location to flesh out your message. There’s also the scope for group texts if you want to discuss topics on the move.

Voxer

For: iPhone, Android

Cost: Free

Acting like a walkie-talkie app, Voxer lets you record voice messages that your friends and colleagues can listen to later and reply. You can also record voice memos if you feel writing will take too long. Ending messages with “over” is optional.

Skype
For: iPhone, Android, WP7

Cost: Free

Hold calls and meetings wherever you go. Of course, the quality of Skype on your phone depends on whether you’re connected to a Wi-Fi, but it’s certainly an app worth including.

Cloudtact
For: iPhone, Android

Cost: Free

A handy app that instantly updates your contacts whenever someone changes their contact info, ensuring that your address book is always up-to-date. You can also hook it up to your Mac address book and your Gmail account, making it more comprehensive than it first seems.

Email & Organization

Sparrow

For: iPhone

Cost: $2.99

Yes, Google recently acquired Sparrow, but if you’re looking for a reliable email provider, it remains the best example out there for iPhones.

Gmail
For: iPhone, Android

Cost: Free

The popular email client is automatically available for Android users, but the Gmail app is worth a look for iOS, despite not being as versatile as Sparrow.

Doodle

For: iPhone, iPad

Cost: Free

A scheduler that helps you find the perfect time to hold meetings among a group. Simply create a poll, invite the people you want involved, and communicate with them as you decide upon the best times.

Due

For: iPhone, iPad

Cost: Free

Due offers a handy reminder, alarm, and timer app that strikes a balance between minimalistic and stylish. One interesting feature is that it lets you schedule a task to occur every week, so if you have to meet up with a client every Tuesday at 1pm, Due will ensure you never forget.

Documents

Quickoffice Pro HD
For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Price differs between smartphone & tablet versions

This is perhaps the most comprehensive Microsoft Office editing suite you will find for iPad. Along with editing Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Quickoffice Pro HD enables you to access, manage, and transfer files through EverNote, Google Docs, Dropbox, email, and various social media sites as you sift through all your documents. A must have if you regularly use these products.

Google Docs

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

Google’s cloud sharing document creator is useful for sharing ideas with colleagues and friends. Being able to see real-time updates as they happen is great when you’re hammering out ideas or compiling documents.

CloudOn

For: iPad, Android

Cost: Free

CloudOn rather handily allows you to use Microsoft Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) on your iPad or Android mobile device. It also gives you the ability to sync such files with Box, DropBox, or Google Docs. It functions like Office on your desktop and is equipped with Adobe Reader.

Picsel Smart Office 2

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: $4.99

Another handy office app. A bright and colorful interface with a versatile edit feature (including the ability to view documents in 3D) means that it’s a worthy alternative to Quick Office Pro.

Springpad

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

The useful app is better thought of as a personal assistant instead of a simple organizer (although it can be used as that), enabling users to discover new content through what they post. The app’s smart sorting means that it will add extra info whenever you post something. See a gadget you’re interested in? Post it and Springpad will look up reviews, prices, and gather additional info to help you make a more informed decision.

iA Writer

Available: iPhone, iPad

Cost: $1.99

The minimalist app is handy for when you need to drown out noise and unwanted distractions. There’s also Focus mode, which lets the surrounding text fade into the background so you can focus on the sentence at hand. To get the best results, connect your iPad to a Bluetooth keyboard and work away.

Documents To Go

For: Android

Cost: Free to $14.99

A decent app that enables you to view any Microsoft office files on your Android device. Word, Excel and Powerpoint files can be viewed on the free version, but there is also a premium version, costing $14.99 at time of writing, on which you can edit files; download, view, and edit files from Google Docs, and transfer files from smartphone to desktop. Not the most visually pleasing app, but it gets the job done

Finances

DashLane

For: iPhone

Cost: Free

Enabling you to make mobile payments faster and safer, DashLane takes all your payment information and uses it to produce instant checkouts for whatever you’re purchasing online. A time-saver for those who regularly buy stuff on the Web.

Slice

For: iPhone, Android (Only in U.S.)

Cost: Free

Slices gives you the ability to track your online purchases by keeping your online receipts and placing them in your inbox.

Scanning & Printing

CamScanner

For: iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

CamScanner is a cloud-enabled app that gives your smartphone’s camera the ability to scan. If you take a picture of a document or chart, CamScanner will quickly and efficiently crop the image and save it in .pdf form, ready to be sent and shared worldwide.

Cloud Print
For: Android

Cost: Free

Success using Google’s CloudPrint is reliant on having a CloudPrint-ready printer at your disposal, but the app ostensibly allows you to print documents from your phone. And it will be able to handle everything from JPEGs to PowerPoint presentations. Simple to use and easy to sync with DropBox.

Reminders & Shortcuts

SwipePad

For: Android

Cost: Free

Multitasking is common among smartphone users, and SwipePad aims to make it effortless. With SwipePad, you can configure a menu of shortcuts to your favorite apps with a quick swipe of the screen, and you can fill it with all your favorite apps, so they are easily available at any time.

My Work Clock

For: Android

Cost: Free

If you have a problem with organization or are having trouble juggling multiple tasks, the MyWorkClock app may be right for you. The Android time-keeping app will monitor when you punch in/out and your overtime, and remind you of deadlines and jobs that aren’t finished.

1Password

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

Many of us haphazardly use the same password for all our Internet sign-ins, which leaves us at risk. 1Password formulates strong passwords for everything, stores them in your Web browser, helps you remember them and is easily synced across mobile devices, so all you need to do is remember the master password.

Miscellaneous

Vlingo Virtual Assistant

For: Android, Blackberry

Cost: Free

Vlingo is the Android-compatible answer to Siri, enabling you to control your phone and execute tasks with your voice rather than with your thumbs (though there are supplementary handheld controls). With Vlingo, you can send texts and emails, voice dial, search the Web, and get directions among other things, so it’s just as effective as its iPhone counterpart.

AirDisplay

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: $9.99

AirDisplay turns your mobile device into an external display for desktop, Mac, or Windows. It is not really effective enough to move videos between your desktop and mobile, but it is perfectly adequate for moving photos, iTunes, and documents, and browsing windows and conversations between the two wirelessly.

Robin

For: Android

Cost: Free

Currently in beta mode, but already capable of many things, Robin is a personal assistant for the car. With gesture activation, you can ask Robin to update you about anything you can think of. It’s similar to Siri, but Robin is more versatile and a good alternative to Google Now.

iTranslate
For: iPhone

Cost: Free, ($1.99 for plus version)

With over 50 languages covered (20 of which have spoken translations), iTranslate is incredibly handy for when you’re abroad, communicating with those from different nationalities or just trying to learn a new language. The free version also offers a number of in-app purchases if you want to upgrade.

DocuSign Ink

For: iPhone, iPad, Android,

Cost: Free

DocuSign enables professionals to securely send documents between companies for signing, but it alternatively can be used to collect data or payment; it’s an efficient way of conducting important business with electronic signatures and cloud computing. It’s all legally binding and simple to use—a great innovation.

Tripit

For: iPhone, iPad, Android

Cost: Free

Tripit is a travel itinerary app available to Apple and Android devices. It takes care of all the notoriously problematic parts of organizing a trip and handles tasks such as directions, reservations, tickets, and rentals once you have forwarded them to the app. It recognizes upwards of 3,000 different travel-related companies and should see that you no longer have to frantically rush to the airport because you lost your booking reference.

Friday: The Personal Assistant
For: Android

Cost: Free

The Dexetra-designed Friday: The Personal Assistant keeps a record of everything you do one your Android phone, from phone calls and texts to photos taken and social media posts, to create an easily-searched database of all your activity.

Niall Harbison and Lauren Fisher are the founders of Simply Zesty, where a version of this article originally appeared.